Access to finance

Access to finance is one of the major issues for small and medium-sized businesses. SMEs mostly depend on banks’ loans for obtaining external finance. This is the main means for construction entrepreneurs to finance productive investments and start new works.

Nevertheless, the economic crisis has seriously affected loan conditions for small and medium enterprises, which suffer from tighter finance policy.The increased need for overdrafts and loans cannot be satisfied by the financial system due to the dwindling accessibility of bank loans.

Even more, SMEs often have insufficient guarantees to access loans, they are penalised by the collateral requirements and they pay higher interest rates than large companies. EBC is committed to raise the awareness of the European Institutions on this issue.

News

Banks must back the real economy and facilitate SMEs’ access to finance - 02/05/2013 - Read more